Grandiflora rose plant named &#39;WEKpurmebep&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Grandiflora rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of white edged pink coloration.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybrida plant.

Variety denomination: The new plant has the varietal denomination ‘WEKpurmebep’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Grandiflora Rose. It has a non-disseminated seedling of my creation as its seed parent with the following genetic origin {[(International Herald Tribune×Rosa soulieana derivative)×(Sweet Chariot×Blue Nile)]×(Blueberry Hill×Stephen's Big Purple)} and a non-disseminated seedling of my creation as its pollen parent with the following genetic origin (Meredith×Betty Boop).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from other presently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventor are the following combinations of characteristics: its excellent color stability throughout the life of the flower, its many stipitate glands and numerous hairs on the peduncle, its many stipitate glands on the branches and its occasional nine leaflets leave. The plant has an upright moderately spreading growing habit, suitable for outdoor garden decoration.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed in Kern County and Pomona, Calif., shows that the foregoing and other distinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations. ‘WEKpurmebep’ may be asexually propagated by cuttings, budding and grafting. The budding and grafting successfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa hybrida cv. ‘Dr. Huey’ (not patented).

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, a non-disseminated seedling of my creation by the following combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKpurmebep’ bears double flowers (about 20 to 30 petals) of white edged pink coloration, the non-disseminated seedling bears very double flowers of red-purple with a lavender eye coloration with significantly heavier petalage (about 35 to 42 petals). The new variety has a moderate sweet pear with slight spicy fragrance, whereas the seed parent has a strong citrus blossom and rose fragrance.

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, a non-disseminated seedling of my creation by the following combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKpurmebep’ bears double flowers (about 20 to 30 petals) of white edged pink coloration, the non-disseminated seedling bears semi-double flowers of white with a coral orange edge coloration with significantly lesser petalage (about 15 to 20 petals). The new variety has an upright moderately spreading medium height to somewhat tall growing habit (about 128 to about 175 cm. in height), whereas the pollen parent has a rounded compact significantly shorter growing habit (about 70 to about 85 cm. in height).

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The new variety may be distinguished from its closest commercially available cultivar, ‘KORweiso’ (not patented) by the following combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKpurmebep’ bears double flowers (about 20 to 30 petals) of white edged pink coloration, ‘KORweiso’ bears semi-double flowers of white edged with dark pink to light red coloration with significantly lesser petalage (up to 20 petals). The new variety has an upright moderately spreading medium height to somewhat tall growing habit (about 128 to about 175 cm. in height), whereas the closest commercially available cultivar has an upright significantly taller growing habit (about 150 to about 215 cm. in height).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows the flowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearly correct as it is possible to make in a color illustration of the character. The branches used for the photograph came from 3 to 4 year-old rose plants of the new variety grown outdoors in Pomona, Calif. in the month of November. Throughout this specification, color references and/or values are based upon the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society (1966) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of 3 to 4 year-old rose plants of the new variety grown outdoors in Pomona, Calif. in the month of November. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climatic conditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

-   Flower: The new variety sometimes bears its flowers singly, usually     in clusters of two to five or more per stem. Flowers may be borne in     regular rounded clusters on strong medium to somewhat long stems     (about 28 to about 82 cm.). The cluster ranges from about 11.7 to     about 17.4 cm. in diameter. Outdoors, the plant blooms abundantly     and nearly continuously during the growing season. The flowers have     a moderate sweet pear with slight spicy fragrance. -   Bud: The peduncle is about 2.6 to about 6.6 cm. in length, of     average caliper (about 0.2 to about 0.3 cm. in diameter), and     usually erect to somewhat stiff. It is moderately rough, with many     stipitate glands and numerous hairs. Peduncle color is between 146C     and 146B sometimes lightly suffused, especially on the side exposed     to the sun, with near 187B. Before the calyx breaks, the bud is     about 1.1 to about 1.5 cm. in diameter at the widest point, about     1.4 to about 2.0 cm. in length, and pointed to somewhat ovoid in     shape. The surface of the bud bears between 11 to 14 foliaceous     appendages with very few stipitate glands and some hairs, usually     with slender entire foliaceous parts extending beyond the tip of the     bud about ¼ or more of its length. Bud color is between 137D and     144A sometimes lightly suffused, especially on the side exposed to     the sun, with near 187B. The sepals are about 2.0 to about 3.2 cm.     in length and about 0.7 to about 1.0 cm. in width at the widest     point. The outer surface color of the sepal is between 137D and 144A     sometimes lightly suffused, especially on the side exposed to the     sun, with near 187B. The outer surface of the sepal is smooth and     bears between 0 to 6 foliaceous appendages with very few stipitate     glands and some hairs. The inner surface color of the sepal is near     138A broadly bordered by near 137A. After the sepals open, the inner     surface color is often heavily suffused, especially on the area     exposed to the sun, with between 187A and 187B. The inner surface of     the sepal is covered with fine wooly tomentum; sepal margins are     lined with many stipitate glands and hairs. The receptacle of the     flower is of somewhat short length (about 0.3 to about 0.5 cm.) and     average in caliper (about 0.5 to about 0.7 cm. in diameter). The     receptacle is urn- shaped in form. Its surface is smooth with some     hairs and with moderately thick fleshy walls. The receptacle color     is between 146C and 144A sometimes lightly suffused, especially on     the side exposed to the sun, with near 187B. As the petals open     (after the calyx breaks), the bud is about 1.4 to about 2.2 cm. in     diameter at the widest point, about 1.8 to about 2.7 cm. in length,     and pointed to moderately ovoid in form. The color of the under     surfaces of the newly opened petals is between 154D and 150D at the     base gradually suffusing toward the middle of the petal to near 27A     blushed with between 60B and 53B to as dark as between 187A and 187B     toward the petal edge. There is no visible change in coloration at     the point where the petal attaches. The color of the upper surfaces     of the newly opened petals is between 154D and 150D at the base     gradually suffusing toward the middle of the petal to near 37C     blushed with between 60B and 53B toward the petal edge. There is no     visible change in coloration at the point where the petal attaches. -   Bloom: When fully open, the bloom ranges from about 7.5 to about     11.2 cm. in diameter. Petalage is double with about 20 to 30 petals     and about 2 to 4 petaloids irregularly arranged. When partially     open, the bloom form is moderately ovoid to somewhat high centered     to cupped, and the petals are loosely spiraled to somewhat undulated     to cupped with petal edges moderately reflexed outward. When fully     open, the bloom form is more cupped and the petals are loosely     cupped to somewhat undulated with petal edges moderately reflexed     outward. -   Petals: The substance of the petals is somewhat heavy and of medium     thickness, with upper surfaces somewhat satiny and under surfaces     slightly shiny. The petals are about 2.2 to about 3.8 cm. in length     and about 1.7 to about 3.8 cm. in width at the widest point. Petal     margins are entire. The outer petals are nearly rounded to somewhat     obovate in shape with rounded to sometimes mucronate apices. The     inner petals are moderately obovate in shape with rounded to     sometimes mucronate apices. Petaloids are about 0.7 to about 2.1 cm.     in length and about 0.3 to about 0.8 cm. in width at the widest     point. Petaloids are irregularly shaped moderately obovate to     subulate with rounded apices. -   Newly opened flower: The under surface color of the outer,     intermediate and inner petals is between 155D and 155B blushed with     between 71C and 67A toward the petal edge. At the point where the     petal attaches, there is a very small zone of near 4C. The upper     surface color of the outer, intermediate and inner petals is between     155D and 155B blushed with between 71C and 67A toward the petal     edge. At the point where the petal attaches, there is a small zone     of near 4C. The under and upper surface colors of the petaloids are     similar in coloration to the upper and under surfaces of the     intermediate and inner petals. The general tonality of the newly     opened flower is between 155D and 155B blushed with between 71C and     67A toward the petal edge. -   Three-day-old flower: The under and upper surface color of the     outer, intermediate and inner petals is between 155D and 155B     blushed with between 71C and 67A toward the petal edge. There is no     visible change in coloration at the point where the petal attaches.     The under and upper surface colors of the petaloids are similar in     coloration to the upper and under surfaces of the intermediate and     inner petals. The general tonality of the three-day-old flower is     between 155D and 155B blushed with between 71C and 67A toward the     petal edge. On the spent bloom, the petals usually drop off cleanly.     In November in Pomona, Calif., blooms on the bush growing outdoors     generally last about four to five days. Cut roses from plants grown     outdoors and kept at normal indoor living temperatures generally     last about four to five days. -   Male reproductive organs: Stamens are average in number (average     about 55) and are arranged regularly about the pistils; a few are     mixed with petaloids. The filaments are of short length (about 0.3     to about 0.7 cm.) most with anthers. Filaments are between 5C and 6C     in color. The anthers are of medium size for the class and all open     approximately at the same time. Anther color when immature is near     22A on the external part and near 13D on the internal part. Anther     color at maturity is near 164D on the external part and near 200A on     the internal part. Pollen is moderate and between 20B and 18A in     color. -   Female reproductive organs: Pistils vary in number (average about     60). The styles are somewhat uneven, average to moderately long in     length (about 0.3 to about 0.9 cm.), somewhat thin to average in     caliper, and moderately separated. Stigma color is between 18B and     19C. Style color is between 154D and 150D usually heavily suffused     with between 187A and 187B. Ovaries are usually all enclosed in the     calyx. The ovaries are of medium size and between 158C and 159D in     color. Hips are of average length (about 1.6 to about 2.2 cm.),     rounded in form with a flat top, and between 26A and 25A in color     when ripe. The hip surface is smooth with thick fleshy walls. The     sepals are fugacious and usually straight in shape. The seeds are     irregularly rounded, smooth in texture, approximately 7 to about 14     per hip, about 0.4 to about 0.6 cm. in diameter at the widest point     and between 165D and 164A in color. -   Foliage: The compound leaves are usually comprised of three to nine     leaflets and are borne abundantly. The seven-leaflet leaves are     about 8.2 to about 17.1 cm. in length and about 5.8 to about     13.2 cm. in width at the widest point, leathery to moderately crisp     in texture on both sides, and glossy in finish on the upper side and     slightly glossy in finish on the under side. The leaves have a     pinnate venation pattern. The terminal leaflets are about 2.8 to     about 8.8 cm. in length and about 2.2 to about 5.2 cm. in width at     the widest point, shaped ovate to somewhat oval with acute apices     and rounded bases. Their margins are usually simply serrate. The     upper surface color of the mature leaf is between 137A and 147A. The     under surface color of the mature leaf is between 147B and 146B. The     under and upper colors of the leaf veins on the mature leaf are     similar in coloration to the upper and under surfaces colors of the     mature leaf. The upper surface color of the young leaf is between     137C and 146B, often heavily suffused with between 187A and 187B.     The under surface color of the young leaf is near 146B, often     heavily suffused with between 187A and 187B. The under and upper     colors of the leaf veins on the young leaf are similar in coloration     to the upper and under surfaces colors of the young leaf. The rachis     is moderately heavy in caliper and rough. The upper side is somewhat     shallowly grooved with very few hairs and few stipitate glands on     the edges of the grooves. The under side of the rachis is rough with     some stipitate glands and few small prickles. The rachis color is     near 146D on the under side and near 137B on the upper side,     sometimes lightly suffused on the young leaves with between 187B and     187C. The stipules are about 1.0 to about 1.7 cm. in length and     moderately wide (about 0.5 to about 1.0 cm.) with medium to somewhat     long straight points that usually turn out at an angle of more than     45 degrees and sometimes recurve toward the stem. The under and     upper surface color of the stipule is between 146B and 146C. The     upper and under surfaces of the stipules are smooth in texture. The     petiole is moderately heavy in caliper and rough. The upper side is     somewhat shallowly grooved with very few hairs and few stipitate     glands on the edges of the grooves. The under side of the petiole is     rough with some stipitate glands and few small prickles. The petiole     is about 0.6 to about 1.8 cm. in length and about 0.1 to about 0.2     cm in width at the widest point. The petiole color is near 146D on     the under side and near 137B on the upper side, sometimes lightly     suffused on the young leaves with between 187B and 187C. The plant     displays an above average degree of resistance to powdery mildew     (Sphaerotheca pannosa) and rust (Phragmidium sp.) as compared to     other commercial varieties grown under comparable conditions in     Pomona, Calif. The plant's winter hardiness and drought/heat     tolerance are yet to be determined. -   Growth: The plant has an upright moderately spreading medium height     to somewhat tall growing habit (about 128 to about 175 cm. in height     and about 122 to about 152 cm. spread at the widest point), with     full branching. It displays vigorous growth and the canes are of     medium caliper for the class (about 2.0 to about 2.9 cm. in diameter     at the widest point). The color of the major stems is between 146B     and 146C. The major stems are rough in texture and they bear some     large prickles that are about 0.6 to about 1.1 cm. in length. The     large prickles are angled slightly downward with a medium length     moderately narrow oval base; prickle color is between 166A and 165A.     The major stem bears few The color of the branches is between 137C     and 148A. The branches are rough in texture and they bear some large     prickles which are of similar size and shape to the large prickles     on the major stems; prickle color is between 162A and 161A often     moderately suffused with between 187C and 187D. The branches bear     many small prickles of similar shape and coloration with many     stipitate glands. The color of the new shoots is between 137D and     148A often moderately suffused with between 187B and 187A. The new     shoots are rough in texture and they bear few large prickles which     are of similar size and shape to the large prickles on the major     stems; prickle color is between 152C and 152D often heavily suffused     with between 187B and 187A. The shoots bear many small prickles of     similar shape and coloration with some stipitate glands. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Grandiflora rose plant of the variety substantially as described and illustrated herein. 